The driver accused of causing a fatal accident in the summer of 2019 was only recently charged criminally. Prosecutors accused the man of criminal vehicular homicide related to the alleged drunk driving accident, which is a felony. His blood-alcohol level was purportedly above the legal limit at the time of the wreck.
On June 22, 2019, the 34-year-old man was driving with one passenger on a public street in North Dakota. The vehicle drifted out of the correct lane, crossed the lane for oncoming traffic and then hit multiple vehicles that were parked alongside that stretch of road. No one was in any of the parked vehicles at the time of the wreck. Only the driver and his passenger were injured in the wreck.
The passenger suffered severe injuries and died while still at the scene of the accident. The driver was also seriously injured and had to be transported to an area hospital for treatment, where he was also arrested. While there, police executed a search warrant that allowed them to take two different blood samples. Those two samples reportedly showed blood-alcohol levels of .227% and .212%. It is not clear if the blood draws were back to back or spaced out over a period of time.
Felony charges should always be treated seriously. Defendants in North Dakota must understand just how much is on the line, including prison time. Creating a strong defense to charges for things like drunk driving and criminal vehicular homicide is essential. For those who are not sure where to start, speaking with an experienced attorney can provide helpful information on the process.